Elan E3 Buyer's Guide
The Elan E3, rebadged from the Elan 320, is the performance-cruising member of Elan's E series and a common sight among used 30-foot sportboats. Built by Elan in Slovenia to a Humphreys Yacht Design hull, it pairs a Volvo 70–derived chined hull with twin rudders and a deep cockpit, aimed at sailors who want both family cruising and club-racing pace.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common on the brokerage market, but both two- and three-cabin versions appear, and ex-charter examples are common. The standard two-cabin arrangement has a port quarter double and a forepeak double with an infill, plus a saloon that seats a crew or family and a head to starboard of the cockpit. A three-cabin owner layout adds a third sleeping space while keeping the large saloon and L-shaped galley forward of the aft cabin.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A gennaker is commonly fitted to used Elan E3s, flown from the retractable bowsprit for downwind speed. Beyond that, power and energy systems are the most consequential upgrades: some boats carry the optional 8 kW Oceanvolt electric engine in place of the standard Volvo, and a bow thruster is offered as a factory option for tight-marina handling. Canvas and sail-handling clusters centre on the extendable prodder and asymmetric spinnaker gear, with Harken winches and a below-deck jib furler as standard; a full teak deck is an upgrade from the standard artificial teak cockpit. Navigation and comfort items on richer examples may include a Raymarine pack and an Isotherm fridge with hot water, but these are not universal.
What to Inspect
The wheels cut into the cockpit sides, which a MySailing tester flagged as a possible finger-trap hazard, and standing behind the wheels can feel cramped against the cockpit wall because they sit far outboard. Check the pedestals for space to mount readable instruments, as TradeABoat's review noted they lack it, and confirm the primary winches are reachable from the helm if you sail short-handed, since they sit halfway along the coaming. Cabin headroom is limited, so verify it suits your height below. Mechanically, inspect the seven keel bolts and their steel U-shape washers under the floorboards, and the vacuum-infused hull for any osmotic blistering the VAIL process was meant to prevent.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Used Elan E3s typically turn up in Australia, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. For a shopper, the checklist is short: confirm layout (three-cabin owner versions predominate, ex-charter common), verify gennaker and bowsprit function, inspect keel-bolt washers and hull gelcoat, and assess wheel clearance and winch reach for your sailing style.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Elan E3. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 5 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 25 | 1 | $150,217 | — |
| Mar 26 | 2 | $119,478 | -20.5% |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $125,361 | +4.9% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $130,599 | +4.2% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $162,444 | +24.4% |
Where they're listed
Elan E3 listings appear across 4 countries. Australia has the most listings with 3 (50.0%), followed by Switzerland and Germany.
Country view
6 listings · 4 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | $100,505 | 3 | 0 | 50.0% |
| Switzerland | $130,599 | 1 | 1 | 16.7% |
| Germany | $150,217 | 1 | 0 | 16.7% |
| Netherlands | $162,444 | 1 | 1 | 16.7% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
10 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elan E4 | 34.78' | $ 199,291 | 17 | 5 |
| Legend E33 | 33.05' | $ 85,000 | 17 | 5 |
| Elan Boats 31 | 30.84' | $ 48,828 | 15 | 4 |
| One-Off 28 | 28.18' | $ 40,752 | 14 | 2 |
| Performance 350 | 34.78' | $ 104,802 | 14 | 2 |
| Elan 33 | 33.96' | $ 30,567 | 12 | 2 |
| Elan 36 | 36.09' | $ 57,373 | 11 | 3 |
| X-Yachts Xp XP 33 | 32.78' | $ 158,368 | 7 | 0 |
| Elan Boats E3You are here | — | $ 134,800 | 6 | 2 |
| Marlow-Hunter e33 | 33' | $ 109,900 | 6 | 2 |